29th July 2018 Hearts v Inverness Caledonian Thistle 5-0

The big game at last. Hearts had to win to qualify for the Betfred Cup knockout stages while Inverness would qualify as a best second placed team if they avoided defeat by more than three goals. Walked down to Tynecasle after lunch and arrived at the ground around 14.30. Hearts made three changes from the side defeated Cowdenbeath in midweek; Ikpeazu started ahead of Kyle Lafferty, Aaron Hughes  replaced Michael Smith who was injured and Olly Lee replaced Andrew Irving in central midfield. Lafferty  has been linked in the press with a move to Rangers who are reported to have made a derisory offer of £200,000 for his services. He had stated last season, after his gambling problems came out, that he would be happy to stay at Hearts for the rest of his career. As a boyhood Rangers fan and a former player at the club, in its previous incarnation, it will be interesting to see what happens with the proposed move. If he goes Hearts will certainly want a fee closer to £1,000,000 than £200,000. While Lafferty was on the bench today this was due to the effects of the injury he received against Bath Rovers which had also necessitated his substitution against Cowdenbeath. Inverness included former Hearts goalkeeper Mark Rodgers with another former Jambo Brad McKay in central defence.

Hearts started well with Ikpeazu proving a handful to the Inverness defence with his physical presence and pace. He nearly scored when Coll Donaldson failed to clear Ben Garuccio’s cross. However the big striker caught the ball under his feet and could not get a shot in before  the danger was cleared. Hearts first goal came just before the half hour mark from an Lee corner. The ball found Ikpeazu about eight yards out and he volleyed the ball into the net. Minutes later it was 2-0 after a foul on Steven Naismith at the edge of the box. Garuccio took the kick around twenty-five yards out and struck a great free-kick around the wall and into the top corner of the goal. Ridgers had no chance of saving the shot. After thirty-three minutes Hearts went 3-0 ahead when Ikpeazu headed home a cross from Garuccio. Zamal in the Hearts goal then had to make a couple of decent saves. Firstly he pushed a shot from Walsh round the post and then from the resultant corner tipped McKay's header over the bar. Hearts  also struck the post with a shot from thirty yards by Lee before halftime.A satisfactory  half and the team went off to a round of cheers. I was slightly annoyed that a child sitting behind me kept kicking the back of his seat despite his mother telling him not to. I turned round at halftime but as he was only about two years old and wearing a Hearts top I did not say anything. I just hope the family have not bought season tickets behind me !

.The second half started a bit more sedately although both sides ere still making chances. Hearts scored again just after the hour mark when Naismith steered a header from a cross by Calumn Morrison past Ridgers. Calumn is not a spelling mistake it is the way he spells his name. Hearts then decided to replace Ikpeazu with Lafferty. With his first touch from a Naismith pass Lafferty hit the far post from just inside the penalty box. Hearts scored again with about ten minutes remaining when Naismith looped a header from a Lee free-kick into the net. The pressure continued and substitute Anthony McDonald forced a good save from Ridgers before the end of the game.

An excellent result for Hearts who drew Dunfermline away in the knock-out stages. Inverness however missed out to Patrick Thistle on goal difference as the remaining best second place side. Thistle drew Celtic in the knock-out stages with Inverness therefore missing to on a big payday. I walked home with a smile on my face and am looking forward to a trip to Fife in the next round.

Teams

Hearts: Zlamal, Souttar, Haring, Berra, Lee, Naismith, Hughes, Garuccio, MacLean, Ikpeazu, Morrison. 

Subs: Lafferty, Burns, McDonald

Inverness CT: Ridgers, Rooney, Tremarco, Chalmers, Donaldson, Polworth, Doran, Walsh, White, McKay, Trafford.                        
Subs: Calder, Austin, Mackay